Our new chicks

[smudgley]

First we bought these
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington002.jpg

Then we put them in this
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington091.jpg

Then we sat & waited
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington095.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington096.jpg

Then they started hatching
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington098.jpg

But Twerpy got a bit dry & stuck to his shell
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington111.jpg

Soon looked like this
http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington117.jpg

http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo292/kellynewton/BuffOrpington125.jpg

[MrsH]

What a lovely sequence of photos! takes me right back to when my grandpa hatched chicks out (I've got a good memory 'cos that was 55 years or more ago!)

Did everyone just sit there for days and days in their pjs, just to make sure they didn't miss the great event? :D

[smudgley]

well, from the first sign of pipping the shells they sat there for hours & hours :lol:

[dinahsmum]

Is that the original eggs which you were going to give up on because you didn't have a broody?

[smudgley]

Is that the original eggs which you were going to give up on because you didn't have a broody?

Yes, if you remember my friends gave me a broody hen and I went and brought some fertile eggs for her, but because we moved her she wasn't broody anymore, so we were stuck with the eggs... We borrowed an incubator and enjoyed it so much we got more eggs & more eggs & even more eggs! :cool:

[alexgirl73]

Oh wow!! I so want to do that now lol! Wonder if OH could build me an incubator.

Great pics Smudgley :D

[smudgley]

Oh wow!! I so want to do that now lol! Wonder if OH could build me an incubator.

Great pics Smudgley :D

:lol: .... we are loving it and now have actually got 2 incubators here and have hatched loads of chicks. :cool: One of our own hens went broody, so she is sitting a goose egg :shock:

[alexgirl73]

well, if you ever feel that you could lend one out, and are passing Telford ;) :lol: Bet your girls are loving all the little chicks.

[pinklizzy]

Great photos! I just love the little fluffy chicks :D Wonder if I could hatch any in our practice incubator ;)

[smudgley]

well, if you ever feel that you could lend one out, and are passing Telford ;) :lol: Bet your girls are loving all the little chicks.

They are both ones I have borrowed, one was playing up so managed to borrow another. Am considering buying one - but they are expensive - even 2nd hand. :(

[Moli]

What a lovely set of pictures, amazing to see those gorgeous little fluff balls coming out of an egg...

[angieh]

Lovely chicks Smudgley - hope they lay loads of eggs when they are old enough. What a great sequence. You miss all that when you buy POL.

Wait 'til Calismum sees these pictures!!!

[dandysmom]

That was a great sequence of shots! Fun to see them hatching. How many chickens and chicks do you have now?

I agree, Calismum will be very broody seeing those little peeps!

[calismum]

Oh you two just knew I'd be - just soooooo jealous, green, envious etc.

They are loveley. No wonder all took up residence in front of it!

I just can't wait, no patience. Only 4 weeks to go!

OH read in the Scottish Farmer that Stirling Market are having a poultry sale end July. The ad says livestock, hatching eggs and equipment. Think I might go see the equipment side. - Would that not be a good place to get an incubator Smudgely? - not Stirling but local livestock mkt?

Ooooh - can't wait. can't wait, ca............

[smudgley]

We have a local poultry auction every Wednesday, but I've not seen an incubator there, although I don't get to go that often. There is a big specialist poultry sale on Thursday evening this week which I plan to go to, although I'm on a bloody course! (these courses are compulsry & if you don't attend you have to do catch-up at another site which would be miles away) bloomin' typical isn't it, so if I go, I won't get there til after it starts! :(

DM - We have 8 adults ( 3 calder Ranger, 4 black rocks and my new buff orpington called Matilda) and about 20/25 chicks. I had 4 duck eggs incubating but have chucked them out as the incubator I was using overheated this morning and fried the poor eggs. Just waiting on one goose egg to hatch now, which is under a hen (safest place to be I reckon)

[dinahsmum]

Goslings are so cute! Sort of loose limbed and floppy! Beware grown geese though - they are real characters and often very fiercely protective of their territory.

[angieh]

Make excellent guards though - but perhaps you'll need more than one?

[dinahsmum]

Yes - I think the usual grouping is 2 geese with one gander. I also think they get quite, um, sentimental? - that's not the right word but they do tend to stick together, mope when they are bereaved etc.

[Kim]

Great photos Smudgley, the chicks are sooo cute!